South Brisbane tower billed as world’s tallest green building cut down to size

After nearly 1000 public submissions and one year of trying to convince a sceptical Council, the backers of what could have been the world’s tallest “green’’ building have scaled it back yet again.

A developer has scaled back the height of what it had billed as the world’s tallest “green’’ building a second time, slashing 12 levels off its original plans.

But that is unlikely to appease enraged South Brisbane locals who pointed out, in more than 900 submissions, that the maximum height for the area was only 12 storeys.

Aria Property Group submitted a development application last year for a 32-level residential tower which would have 1000 trees and massive expanses of vertical gardens.

The idea was to give it an unrivalled 300 per cent “green cover’’.

But the huge scale of the residential tower, retail and urban park, at 82 and 88 Merivale St and 23 and 25 Glenelg St, immediately raised hackles.

The so-called “Urban Forest’’ project originally would have had 382 units spread over 30 levels with ground floor retail spaces and visitor centre.

There were proposed to have been up to seven basement levels of parking for just under 500 cars.

The distinctive, shaggy-looking tower covered with greenery.

But the striking Koichi Takada Architects design was first cut to 24 storeys, at Council’s request earlier this year, and now has been pared back to 20 storeys.

Council officers have yet to decide whether to support the amended design for the 5-star rated structure.

Some of the 940-odd objections included visual impacts on an adjacent heritage-listed church, impacts on a nearby school, shadowing and traffic congestion.

“The proposed development undermines the ability to enjoy public spaces nearby,’’ one objector wrote.

Artist's impression of how the project could look.

“They (Aria) are outside planning guidelines. The existing planning template should be adhered to.

“What is the point of having development guidelines for public amenity if these are not adhered to by developers?’’

The site presently has several one and two-level warehouses.

The latest design would have 198 units.

Planners Urbis wrote to Council asking it to approve the new plans.

The South Brisbane development site.

“Throughout the application process, the applicant has taken significant steps to address Council’s concerns and address items within further issue notices,” documents lodged as part of the development application said.

“The proposal’s distinct built form, iconic Brisbane subtropical design and its focus on public contribution should not be discounted when assessing the development in its totality.”

More details at Council’s online development application portal developmenti. Search by the street address or application number A005490380

Originally published as South Brisbane tower billed as world’s tallest green building cut down to size